Island



I Fei 17 1925. 1,526,580

\ E. E. ARNOLD APPARATUS FOR REMOVUG THE OXYGEN CONTENT FROM ATMOSPHERIC AIR Filed Feb. 1.8. 1922. 2 Sheets-Sheet I Now Feb 17, 1925.

E. yE. ARNQLD APPARATUS FOR REKOING THE OXYGEN CONTENT FROM ATMOSPHERIC AIR 2 Sheets-Shelet 2 Fild Ele'b. 1a, 1922 Patented Feb. l?, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWARD E. ARNOLD, OF COVENTRY, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGQNOR "10\ THE NITROGEN PATENT OFFICE,

CORPORATION, OF PROVIDENGE, RHODE ISLANDQA CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING- TH OXYGEN CONTENT FROM ATMOSPERIC AIB. v

Application filed February 18, 1922. Serial No. oSQLwL l'o all whom t may] concern.

Be 1t known that I, EDWARD E. Annone,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Coventry, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Removing the Oxygen Content from Atmospheric lAir, of which the ollowing is a. specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, and has for one oli its objects the provision 'of means for igniting a gas mixture of atmospheric air and hydrogen in a suitable casing and supplying heat to the casing during the combustion of said gases whereby combustion of the gases is eilected and maintained without interruption so long as the supply of gases thereto is maintained uninterrupted.

'Another object of the invention is the provision of means for controlli-ng the supply of gases to the casing in such a. manner as to avoid the dainger of inconfiplete combustion of the gases, particularly the oxygen content of the air, by reason of failure of the' heating element in the casing to operate properly or the maintenance ot' the supply of gases in proper proportions.

Another object of the invention is io provide means ior ignit-ing a gas mixture of atmospheric air and l'iydrogen in a suitable casing as well asindicating mechanism for warning the '.iiieiiiitor it for any reason the ignition apparatus fails to function properly. u

ther objects and advantages ot' the invention relates to certain in'iprovedv details ot construction and methods of coordinating the indicating and automatically operating mechanismas will be more fully set forth in the brief description to follow.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagraimnatic view ot one -iorm of ignition and control mechanism which may be employed in carrying out .my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic 'View ot' a modiied form-ot' ignition and indicating' mechanism as applied to 'a modified form of combustion chamber, and,

Fig. 3 is a di agrammatio view of a further modified form of ignition and indicating mechanism.

ln the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. v1 of the drawings 1 designa-tes an elongated casing which may he formed of ferro-chromium alloy or other suitable heat resistant material and provided adjacent to one end thereof with inlet pipes 2 and 3 for admitting atmospheric air and hydrogen rep spectively to the interior of the casing. heating elemente is positioned within the casing which in the present instance consists of' a resistance coil extending through a material portion of the length of said casing and supported therein through plugs 5 and 6 secured. after any desired manner in the walls of the casing to prevent leakage of the gases therearound.

Valves 7 and 8 are located in the supply pipes 2 and 3 respectively7 to which are secured operating arms 9 and 10 for manipulating the valves to open the pipes for the passage of gasesy therethrough or close the same whenever it ma 1 be lfound desirable.

A branch pipe 11 lea( s from the air pipe .2`

adjacent the casing, while a similar pipe 1Q- leads from the hydrogen supply pipe 3. The pipes 11 and 12 communicate with a cylindrical casing 13 being led therein adjacent to the longitudinal center of said casing while branches le and 15 extend from the the pipes l1 and 12' respective-ly and communicate with the interior of the casing 13 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. -A plunger 1G is slidably mounted within the casing and is provided at one end thereof with an offset Contact member 17 for a purpose which will he more fully described hereinafter. A pair of spaced pistonslS and 19 are secured to the plunger 16 within the cylindrical casing 13 for travel within the casing and 1n. contact with-the interior surface 1of the casing wall whereby any predeter- 7 mined variation of the pressures in the pipes 2 and 3 will result lin movement of the plunger 16 and the contact member 17 carried from the main circuit thereby in one direction or the other through the balanced effect produced by the pressures of the gases between the pistons 18 -and 19 within the casing and the unbalanced effect produced by means of varying pressures above the piston 1S and below the piston 19 corresponding with variations of pressure in the pipes 2 and 3.

The resistance element 4 may be heated by an electric current from .the main line circuit Qtr-21 which may be a part ot the usual light and power altcmiating current system. A shunt circuit 23--24 extendsl and contains a magnet Q5, while a second shunt circuit 26-27 extends from the main circuit and contains ay similar magnet. QS oppositely positioned relative to the magnet and a normally open switch comprising'the contact meniber 17 and the contact points 20 and 530 opposed thereto. A switch 32 is pivotally supported between the adjacent ends of the magnets 23 and 28 and cooperates with contact points i3 and 34 to close a secondary circuit fl whenever the major portion of the main. circuit current is diverted to pass through the magnets 25 or 28. Balanced springs 36 and 3T are secured to opposite sides of the switch 3,2 and suitably positioned binding posts and'rnnrmally hold the switch against moverldriftowards either the magnet 25 or the mlgne't 2R and to return the switch to ita/normal position upon dcmagnetization of either of the magnets, the spring 36 being slightly heavier than the spring 37 by reason of the fact that a small amount of current ,from the main line is normally-passing throughfthecircuit 22B- 2t and the magnet 25.

A battery 4,0 supplies current to the secondary circuit in which are located magnets 4l and 42 and a signal bell or other suitable electric indicating mechanism 43.

The levers 9 and 10 for controllingr the valves 7 and S are provided with weight-s 45 and 4G and angular end portions 47 and 4b' respectively. A` catch 49 pivotall)y mounted as at 50 normally engages the end 4T ot' the lever S) to hold the same against iallinglunder the influence ot the weight 45 to close the valve, and a piyotally mounted magnetic switch 5l is connected to the catch 49 by means of the`link whereby upon the magnet A.il being'cnergized the catch 49 will be tripped to release the lever 9 and permit the weight 45 to close the valve The lever l() is similarly supported by a catch 'J pii" oted at 54 and connected to a switch by means of link 56 whereby the lever l() will be similarly released 4upon the magnet 42 being energized and thc valve 8 closed by the weight 46.

Vnhen the parts of the apparatus are positioned as shown in the drawings the valves 7 and 8 are open to permit air and hydrogen gas to flow through the pipes 2 and 5l into the casing l where the oxygen coutent ol the air and the hydrogen are ignited by the heated resistance clement 4 and combine to forni water vapor which will pass' from the casing l through the pipe 60, together with the nitrogen or nitrogen-hydrogen mixture remaining after the elimination ot the oxy gen content of the air, and into the condenser 61 where any suitable cooling devices are employed to condense out the water vapor from the gasor gases remaining. The proportions of atmospheric air and hydrogen may be suitably regulated by adjusting the valves to permit the gases to enter in such proportions as to form either pure or substantially pure nitrogen upon the remoral of the oxygen content from the air or any desired proportion of nitrogen and hydrogen, by admitting hydrogen in the necessary excess of the quantity required to 'combine with the oxygen content of the air. The current from the main circuit :20-21 being passed through the heating element 4 prior to the introduetionot' the gases the element 4 is heated to incandescence and serves to ignite the gaseous mixture and maintain the combustion between the oxygen 'content of the air and the hydrogen by reason of 'the heat developed in the resistance coil. The constant maintenancel of a current through the resistance coil serves to augment the heat generated by the combustion of the gases and insure the complete elimination of the oxygen content of the air with the formation of either substantially pure nitrogenor nitrogen mixed with tbc desired proportion of hydrogen, tions of the, mixture remaining constant so long as the flow of the gases continues uninterrupted and the position otV the valves remains unchanged.r thermostat switch (S5 in the main circuit causes a break in the circuit whenever the temperature ot the resistance element falls below a predetermined point, and any break in or serious injury to tb(` heating coil likewise breaks the main circuiti and causes the current to. flow through the shunt 2i-2iand the magnet thus throwing theswitch 32 into engagement with the contact 35i to close the secondary circuit l5 and energizey the magnets 41 and 4t2 whereupon the levers 9 and l() will fall by reason o f the weights 45 and 46 to close the valves i' and 8 and thus prevent'thc possible passage ot' oxygen from theair into the nitrogen or nitrogenhydrogen mixture formed as a. result of tho combustion. At the same time the current from the secondary circuit lrings the bell 4.3 to warn the operator that the apparat-ue` has been stopped by the closing of the valves.

The air and hydrogen supplied to the asing l trom the pipes 2 and 3 are preferably supplied under slight pressure (for example the propor-.

loo

The provision of ay lli) iao

masses 20-30 lbs. per square inch) although suction may be employed to draw the gases into the casing andv through the system. In eitherj caseithe failure for any reason of the normal gas supply in either of the pipes 2 and 8" will result ina variation of pressure which' will be. instantly communicated to the `cas-4 ing 13 and Wil-1 cause the plunger 16 toinove in one direction vor the'ot-hei-.to engage the contact 29 or 30. This `will` imn'iediately f close the circuit 26-27 through'y the magnet 28 and throw the switch 32 into engagement with Ithe contactk 341 to close the secondary circuit and stop the How of the/gases to i the casing 1 after the .manner previously' described.k Upon the starting of the system the springs 36 and 37 `willnormally hold the switch 32 in its intermediate position. and

4out of. engagement with the contacts 33 and V34 until there occurs some lowering of tein-` perature in the casing 1 below the specified int, a breakin the heating coil or a failure in the supply o-,one of the gases to cause,`

outer tubular' casing and 69'an inner tubularv casing projecting within the casing 68 and terminating at a point intermediate the-tends 'of the casing 69. The tubular casings l68 and 69V may be made of suitable heat resistant material suoli as ferro-chromium alloy.

An air supply pipe 7 0 enters the tube 69 ad,-

jacenttlie base thereof and a similar pipe 71 enters the base of the tube 69 to supply hydrogen gas thereto. 4A. hydrogen sup-ply vpipe 72 enters the casing 68 adjacent thebase thereof to supply an additional quantity of hydrogen thereto in excess of that supplied to the tube 69 through the pipe 7l.' The pipes 70, 71 and 72 are provided with suitable valves '(not shown) for regulating the supply of gases to the tubular casings.

A suitable source of electric current such as a battery 74 is located in a primary cirl l n n s Y cuit 75 which is connected in circuit with a suitable induction coil 7 6, the secondary circuitk77 ofwhich is grounded as at 7 8 and connected with a suitable spark plug 7 9 set into the wall of the casing 68. The spark plug 79 may be so positioned relative to the open end 80 of 'the tuibe'69 as to form therewith a spark gap for the discharge of the high tensionburrent from the secondary circuit, or the spark plug-may be provided with a grounded terminal for the dischargeafter the usual manner. A shunt circuit 81 is connested into the Vbattery circuit and is in series with anV electricbell 82 and a therlniostat 83, the' circuit being normally open by reason offthe contact 84 being normally out of' engagement with the adjustable switch 05 85 of the thermostat. When the primary cir cuit 75 is closed a continuous spark is delivered bythe spark plug '7.9 atthe open end of the tube 69, and upon air and hydrogen being admitted through the pipes 76 and 7l'the gaseous mixture is ignited and the flame immediately dashes bach to a point adjacent the base of the tube 69 where lit con tinues to burn'and the heat generated thereby raises the temperature of the interior or' the casing 68 to a higl'i temperature. Hy drogen may then be admitted through the pipe 7 2 and this incoming hydrogen is high ly heated by coming in contact with the tube 69 so that `as it reaches the end of the tube 69,'it is constantly exposed to the spark delivered by the spark plug T9 and will unite with any unbuined oxygencomiug 'ii-oni the tube 69. Moreover, if for any reason the iianrie in the tube 69 is extinguished it will be inimediateiy relighted by thc sparks from 'thespark plug 79 on reachingthe open end of the tube 8G.Y Any undue tail ot temperature in the casing 68 such as may be occasioned by failure of the fiume in the tube 69 and'tlie'vfailure of the gaseous mixture to ignite at the open end 8O of the tube 69 wil immediately actuate the thermostat switch 85 to engage the contact 84 and close the circuit t-hus ringingf the bell 82 as a 'warning to the operator that the apparatus requires attention. y y y It is to be understood that the control mechanism shown in Fig. i of the drawings Aor suitable equivalents thereof may be inf corpora-ted in the circuit 81 described above and employed to actuate suitaible electrically controlled valves for shutting ofi' the supy ply of gases to the system immediately uppn the lowering of the tem ieratu re below a predetermined point and tie consequent actua tion of the thermostat switch In the inodiiied `forni of apparat-us shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the tiibularcasiugs 68 and 69 are connected as shown iu Fig. 2 with pipes 70, 71 and 72 for supplying air and hydrogen gas to the tube 69 as well as ion Hifi

excess hydrogen to the tube 68 after the mannei' previously described. A battery 9() is connected in a primary circuit 9i. the. terminals of which are connected with the primary windings oit' an induction coil 92. One

yof the terminals of the secondary windings oi; the coil 92 is grounded as at 93 while the other terminal is'connected with a spark plug 94 set in the wali of the tube 68. The spark plug 9d may be so positioned as to form a spark gap with the open end 9T ot the' tube 69 or the spark plug may be provided with the usual grounded terminal to providefa suitable for the discharge of the high tension current from the secondary windings et the induction coil within the tube 68 and adjacent .to the open end ot the tube 69. A holder 96 is provided adjacent to the spark plug 94 for a neon tube 97 of the usual type which serres as a means for indillt dll)

till

eating to the, operator any failure ot' current iu the secondary circuit ordefect in the spark plug which interferes with the proper sparking in the tube 68. lt ivill he secu that when thecurrciit is flowing through the secondary circuit there will be a constant discharge from the spark plug at the tulle (S9, Aand air and hydrogen admitted to the tulie of) through the pipes TU and Tl will be ignited by the spark discharge and the flame will immediately tiash baclc to the base of the tube (i9 ivherc it will burn the oxygen content from the incoming gases with evolution ot heat. tter the gases rai'e ignited in the tube 69 excess hydrogen may he admitted through the pipe 7;) to the tube, (i8 which ivill be heated by contact with the tube (S9 and as this hydrogen supply reaches the end of thc tube. (til it ivill be caused to igniteiivith any trace ot oxygen which may be. previously uncoiubiued in the tube (nl hy means ot' the spark discharge from the spark plug 94. Also it for any reason the thune in the tube (it) is extinguished it will be immediately reignited by the spark discharge at the end of the tube 69. While in tact the extinguish.- ment ot the flame in tlie tube (if) Willoccur only very rarely it over, the. provision of the ignition means shoujn above sci-ves to provi( e a safety device for insuring the reignitiou of the gases so long as the current is properly discharging from the spark plug, and the indicator will immediately disclose the failure. of the spark discharge.

lt is ot' course to be understood that such changes as xvill occur toione skilled iu the art muy be made in the detailed arrangement ol' the control elements and electrical operating mechanism Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient means for maintaining a constant elimination of the oxygen content lrom atmospheric air to form nitrogen or a nitrogen-hydrogen mixture of high purity` and freedom from oxygen such as is necessary, for iiistance in the manufacture ot' synthetic ammonia, that means is provided for igniting the gases at all times and constantly maintaining sutlicient lient in the ignition chamlier to insure complete combustion of the gases as well as to furnish automatic controlling mechanism t'or positively preventing the continuance ot' the operation under improper conditions.

Moreover, means arel provided for indicating to the operator any failure of the ignition means to operate properly, and it' desired there may be coupled with such mechanism suitable means tor shutting ott' the supplyy of gases to the system automatically upon vfailure ot' the ignition means or the lowering ot thc temperature of' the comopeu end ot' the..

. of said bustion chamber unduly either by reason of extinguishment of the flame or failure of the ignition system to function properly.

l` In an apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a casing of constant capacity,..means for conducting atmospheric air and-hydrogen into said casing at points located adjacent to each other', a heating element within said casing, and means for maintaining said element in a state ot incandescence.

2. In an apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a casingr of constantv capacity,lmeans for conducting atmospheric air an hydrogen into said casing at points located adjacent to each other, and umeansV in said casing for constantl maintaining a te i feet the combination of the oxygen content ot said air with hydrogen.

' 3. In an apparatus for removing the oxyf gen content from atmospheric air, a. casing of constant capacity. means for' conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said cas#L ing,.ineans for igniting the gases in said casing, and means for s hutting off the flow t gases to said casing upon the failure of said ignition means. y

4, In an apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a casing, means for conducting atmosphericair and hydrogen into said casino, means in said casing for constantly maintaining a temperaturc suflcient to effect. the combination of theoxygen content of the air with hydrogen, and means for shutting olf the flow of the gases to said casing when the'quantity of hydrogen sup with the entire oxygen contentof the air.

In anapparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a. easing, meansfor conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said casing, means in said,

casing for constantly maintaininer a temperattire sufficient to `effect the com ination' of the oxygen content of the air with hydrogen and means for shutting otf the supply of said gases to the casing when thc temperature'within the casing falls belenT a predetermined point.

G. yIn an apparatus for removing the oxygen content of atmosphericair, a casing of constant capacity. means for conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said casin and bringing said gases'into contact wit each other while relatively undiffused, a heating element in said casing, and means for maintaining they temperature of said. heating element sutiiciently highto effect the combination of the oxygen.k content of the air with the hydrogen.

plied is insiicient tocombine.v

7. In an apparatus for combining hydrol gen with the oxygen content of atmospheric Y,

assenso air, a casing of constant capacity, means for i drogen with the oxygen content of the air CA v for constantly supplying' heat to the interior of said casing. f

S. In an apparatus for combining hydrolgen with the oxygen content of atmospheric air to4 form Water, a casing, means for conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said casing under pressure, means for igniting the gaseous mixture in said casing and means for shutting oil the supply of said gases to the casing when the pressure at which one of the gases is supplied falls below a predetermined point.

9. In an apparatus for combining hydro- 2aren with the oxygen content of atmospheric air to form water, a casing, means for conducting atmospheric airand hydrogen into said casing under pressure, means for igniting the Igaseous mixture in saidcasing, and means lor shutting ofiq the supply of said gases to the. casing when variation yin the pressures at which the different gases are supplied to the casing exceeds a predetermined arnount. A Y

10. In an apparatus for combining hydrogen with. the oxygen content of atmospheric air to form water, a casing, means for conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said casing, means Within the casing for igniting the gaseous mixture, and means for shutting oli' the supply of said gases to the casing upon the supply of either of said gases to the casing falling below a predetermined point.

1l. ln an apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmosoheric aina casing", means4 for, conductingitmospheric air and hydrogen iinto said ca'ing, means tor. igniting the gases in the casing, means for shutting oil the flow of said gases to the casing upon the failure/,of said ignition means. and means for indicating the shutting oil of said gases.

19, ln an apparatus lier combining the oxygen content of atmos leric air with hydrogen to form Water, aicasing, means for conducting atmospheric ai\r and hydrogen into said casing, 'means insaid casing vfor maintaining a` temperature snllicient to effectA the combination of th oxygen content of the air With hydrogen, means for shutting oil the flow of the gasps to said casing when the quantity of hydr' gen Supplied to the casing is insuiiicient tnpcomloine with the entire 'oxygen content-lettini air, and means for indicating the shritting oli of said gases.

13. In an apparatus `tor combining the oxygen content ci' atmospheric air with hydrogen to form water.l a casing, means for conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen ,into said casing for combustion therein` and automatic means for positively controlling the supply of said gases to the casing.

la. ln an apparatus :for removing theoxygen content iromvatmospheric air, a casing, means for conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said casing, means for igniting'the gases in said casing. and means positively operable upon the failure of said `ignition means for shutting oft the supply of gases to said casing.

15. ln an apparatus vfor removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a casing, means for conducting air and .hydrogen into said casing. means for igniting the gases in said. casng,lindicating means for indicating to the operator any. failure of the ignition means, means for shutting oli` the supply of gases to said casing.l and means operable upon the 'failure of said ignition means to simultaneously operate said last named means and said indicating means.

16. ln an apparatus for removing the oxygen content fro-ni atmospheric air, a cusing, means for conducting air and hyd-rd.

gen into said casing, means for shutting oil the supply of gases to said casing. .indicating means for 'indicating to the operator the 'actuation of the last named means. and

oil the flowot said gases to said casing upon the failure of said ignition means.

i8. In an apliaratus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a casing', means `itor conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen into said casing, electrical means for igniting the gases in the casing, electrically actuated means for shutting oilI the flow of said gases to the casing upon the failure of said ignition means, and electrically actuated means for indicating the shut- .ting oft' of saidl gases.

19. ln an apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air` a casing, means for conducting atmospheric air and hydrogen. into said casing, electrical 'means for igniting the gases in said casing compris-ing a main circuit. a shunt circuit connected with said main circuit, and means in said shunt circuit for shutting off the fow of said raises to the casing upon failure of said ignition means.

20. In :in apparatus for removing the oxygen content from atmospheric air, a casing. moans for conducting atmospheric air andhydrogen into said casing, electrical means for igniing the gases in said casing comprising :L main circuit` :1 shunt circuit connected with said main circuit, :md means 10 in said shunt circuit for indicating the failure of said ignition means.

In testimony whereof I have axed my v signature.

EDWARD E. ARNOLD. 

